MONAHANS, Texas – Early in the morning, firefighters from the Monahans Volunteer Fire Department responded to a massive fire caused by a pipeline explosion in Ward County. Upon arrival, they faced the challenge of containing the fire while waiting for the gas companies to take necessary action.
Assistant Fire Chief John Bell described the scene as a large fire that was visible from a distance. To ensure safety, the firefighters maintained a safe distance and notified the oil companies involved. Unlike natural fires, this particular fire was a result of the pipeline explosion, requiring a different approach in handling the situation.
With gas involved, firefighters had to play the waiting game as the gas companies shut the valves on either side of the fire to allow the excess gas to burn off. The length of the wait depended on various factors such as the size of the pipeline and the amount of gas present. Once the burning process was completed, the firefighters were able to proceed with extinguishing any remaining hotspots.
After six hours of waiting for the fire to burn out, the firefighters were given the green light by the gas company to approach the equipment and extinguish the hotspots. The fire was contained to some brush and an office building, resembling a typical house fire once the gas had dissipated.
Meanwhile, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality confirmed that the pipelines had been shut down, and air monitoring conducted by the fire department deemed their assistance unnecessary. The incident highlighted the importance of swift action and coordination in managing pipeline-related fires to prevent further damage or environmental impact.